Compositions and methods for altering alpha-and beta-tocotrienol content

Abstract

Preparation and use of isolated nucleic acids useful in altering the oil phenotype in plants. Isolated nucleic acids and their encoded polypeptides that alter alpha- and beta-tocotrienol content in seeds and oil obtained from the seeds. Expression cassettes, host cells and transformed plants containing the foregoing nucleic acids.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A transformed microbial cell comprising:
 (a) a first recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprising at least one regulatory sequence operably linked to at least one nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (i) the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 15; 
 (ii) a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:16; and 
 (iii) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence having at least 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:16 wherein the polypeptide is a gamma-tocopherol methyltransferase; and 
 
 (b) a second recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprising at least one regulatory sequence operably linked to at least one nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (iv) the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1; 
 (v) a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2; and 
 (vi) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence having at least 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2 wherein the polypeptide is a homogentisate geranylgeranyl transferase; and 
 
 wherein the first recombinant nucleic acid molecule and the second recombinant nucleic acid molecule are stably incorporated into the transgenic microbial cell. 
 
     
     
       2. The transformed microbial cell of  claim 1 , wherein the microbial cell is an algal cell. 
     
     
       3. The transformed microbial cell of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one regulatory sequence of said first recombinant nucleic acid molecule is a promoter and wherein the at least one regulatory sequence of said second recombinant nucleic acid molecule is a promoter that is the same as or different from the promoter of the first recombinant nucleic acid molecule.